Veterans flaunt the ink mark

VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR

Horil Paswan (from top) waits for his turn; Ishwari Prasad comes out of a booth after casting his vote and Amrica Devi shows
her ID card to a polling official in Koderma on Thursday (below). Pictures by Vishvendu Jaipuriar

Koderma, April 10: He never shied away from responsibilities. Even today, as a citizen of the world’s largest democracy, the centenarian braved the heat, ignored age-related ailments and waited in queue to do his bit.

Horil Paswan, who turned 100 in January, is the only man in the area who has voted in almost all elections since Independence.

This morning, accompanied by son Mahesh, Paswan walked up to Rajkiya Prathamik Vidyalaya at Jalondh of Ichak in the Koderma constituency. Like others, he waited for his turn and pressed the button in favour of a candidate, whom his son calls honest.

Amrica Devi, an 83-year-old woman, also cast her vote at booth no-254 at Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya, Hadari. These days, she explained, people voted on caste lines, as opposed to the time when village elders would help them choose the right candidate.

“Ab to deshki chinta kam aapne jaat, biradari ki chinta adhik ho gayi hai logo ko (Now, people are more concerned about their caste and community members than the country,” she said.

Amrica felt the earlier days were better. “Us waqt vote zimmedari ki baat hoti thi, lekin ab aisa nahi lagta (Then voting used to be a matter of responsibility, but it is not so any more),” she said.